M1-1_livia_frankel

Livia's sister Hédi and Livia, approximately 7 and 3 years old. In those days people did not have private cameras. When they wanted to eternalize the children they simply went to the photographer’s. Livia comments the photo: "Mum brought pyjamas. I’m sure she thought that we would look cute in them. I remember her changing my clothes and combing my hair. After that she put on the freshly ironed bows and ribbons. You may see in the picture that I’m angry. The reason is that when we entered the photographer’s I caught sight of a doll. I pounced at it, took it in my hand and held it hard. The photographer only had one doll. Of course my sister wanted to have it too. I remember that we started to fight. To mum it was embarrassing that we fought. So she tried to do justice. She decided that my sister could hold the doll, as she was the older. In the picture you can see my sister’s triumphant face. To me of course this was terribly unfair. Mum tried to bribe me with an ugly dog and I didn’t want it. I took the dog and threw it away. Then I stood there and looked really mad." Note: After the war some of Livia’s and Hédi’s relatives went back to Sighet and many of them stayed in the family’s house. The people found a lot of old photos in the attic and were wise enough to understand how much they meant to Livia and Hédi, and sent the photos to them.